With a 51/2 barreled sixgun, 9.0 grains of Unique is just under 1,200 fps. My long-favored cast bullet load of 7.5 grains of Unique used with this 240 jacketed . Using bullets from Cast LRNFP, Nosler JHP, Berry's Bullets FP, Cast LSWC. For Cowboy Shooting, I used a lite load right out of the Hodgdon Cowboy Action Data pamphlet. All Ammunition Reloading; Reloading Equipment. 9.9gr for 750 fps The test gun was a 3" Charter arms Winchester cases Winchester WLP primers COL-1.500" Edit to add Link to Alliant load data. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. In my experience 300 grain bullets shoot high and achievable velocity in the Specialtoo low. During the past 40+ years, I have shot dozens of big game from pronghorn to black bear and elk with the .44 Special, all with handloaded ammunition. . All entries must be received by giveaway end date. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. For a general-purpose, one-size-fits-all approach, I usually size cast bullets from .430 to .431 inch. Hornady's new 225-grain Flex Tip eXpanding bullet borrows technology from the company's popular rifle ammo and is a good midweight hunting bullet. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. The "Skeeter"load. Full Metal Jacket projectiles are the ideal choice for training, target shooting and general range use. Deployed military should use stateside address. The .44 Special was introduced in about 1907 and is an extremely accurate cartridge. Though to me the .44 Special is not that special, and I dont need oodles of powder choices behind it for a particular use in the field. These bullets are extremely effective on up to deer-size game. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. cast RNFP; 240-gr. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Number of Views: 5765, Published on 10-20-2014 09:24 PM Reloading the .44 Special is an uncomplicated delight. The Russian case is but .970 inch in length and just couldn't hold enough of the bulky new powder to achieve the desired velocities, so in 1907 Smith & Wesson lengthened the older case by .190 inch and a star was born. When smokeless powder loads appeared, velocity was standardized (with the, same bullet) at 755 fps, which is offered by Remington and Winchester (although actual velocities usually hover around 700 fps). Whether we travel the sagebrush, foothills, forests, or mountains there are .44 Special loads that will handle any situation were likely to encounter. 2 to the slow No.9. SWC, 240 gr. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson were celebrating passage of a bill to ban so-called assault weapons in the Should life go sideways at home, at work, in North Korea or aboard the International Space Station, you really wont find a better defensive tool. At left is a reproduction of Keiths original No. Start load of 7.8 shot very well for my friend. .44 Special The classic Skeeter load of a 240-250 grain LSWC over 7.5 grains of Unique in a 44 Special casing is where I would start. Excellent results were obtained with fast-burning powders such as Hodgdon Titegroup, Accurate No. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. With the Oregon Trail 240 SWC over 26 gr. 2 Accurate No. Colt Model 1861 Special Musket: What's Its Value? Charges less than those shown are not recommended, however, as there is the very real danger of sticking a bullet in the barrel. Tightgroup is an excellent fast pistol powder. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 1,200 fps. DO NOT use Magnum loads in .44 Specal Cases. No purchase necessary. The Hornady 240-grain swaged lead bullet makes an easy recoiling target load at 850 fps. The classic +P 44 Special load is a 429-421 over 7.5 grains of Unique. However, when specifically handgun hunting I rely on the same bullets pushed to a velocity of 1,200 fps to help extend effective range, which in practical terms shares the same velocities and trajectory as most current .44 Magnum 240-grain JHP factory loads while offering better penetration, less pressure and the unique advantage of being fired in lighter guns that usually feature a lower bore axis for less felt recoil. WMR, WSF, WST, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div. Handgun Data. Cases for the .44 Special are straight-walled, so carbide sizers further streamline the loading process. Revolver Is Back, A World Record Attempt: Practice Round and Media Day, Interview with Israeli Defense Forces, Part 1. Pistol Loads | Rifle Loads | How to Reload | Reloading Gear | Contact, Pistol Loads | Rifle Loads | How to ReloadReloading Gear | Contact, Pistol LoadsRifle LoadsHow to ReloadReloading GearContact, Copyright 2023 Reload Ammo Built with by Edward KadoPrivacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Service | Amazon Affiliate Disclosure, Copyright 2023Reload AmmoBuilt with by Edward KadoPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyTerms of ServiceAmazon Affiliate Disclosure. . Guns were Ruger GP100 (three-inch barrel) and Smith & Wesson Model 629 (five-inch barrel). For defense purposes, a lighter 180- or 200-grain HP bullet makes sense. 429244 255-grain bullet (right) with gas check. Join the exclusive reloading community founded in 1996 and be the first to know about our latest news, reviews, and insights. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. JHC. Medium-burn-rate powders, such as Alliant Power Pistol, Unique, Hodgdon CFE Pistol, Winchester AutoComp and Accurate No. With the grips removed, it was an easy task to install the model in a Ransom Rest for testing using an insert for the N-frame, round-butt gun. It is good. of Israeli Defense Forces, joins David Fortier for an exclusive interview for Shotgun News. They are true magnum bullets, featuring a heavy jacket and 1 1/2% antimony core, yet they will expand reliably at 44 Special velocities. 44F. Granted, with modern revolvers the .44 Special can be loaded close to magnum standards for serious hunting duties when needed. Normally, you use the 44. special cases in guns chambered for the .44 special cartridge. .44 Special: When the .44 Special was introduced in late 1907, even though the brass was longer than the .44 Russian and the Triple-Lock sixgun was certainly stronger than the S&W Top-Breaks, for some strange reason it was loaded to the same level as the .44 Russian; they simply increased the black powder charge from 23 to 26 grains. Most modern jacketed bullets must be traveling at least 850 to 900 fps to achieve reliable expansion, a velocity that was easily reached with most 200-grain bullets using standard pressure loads. All of the cast bullets shown in the load table were obtained from a local commercial caster and had a Brinell Hardness Number of 15 (the same as Lyman No. You want a light push fit through the cylinder throats. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. It is important to note that the .44 Special has an industry overall cartridge length of 1.615 inches, while the .44 Magnum is actually shorter at 1.610 inches. models. It often produces tight groups and, when developing top-notch handloads, is one of the least finicky cartridges. My .44 Special loads are the 240 Hornady XTP over 18.5-grain of H110 for 1,114 fps from a 6-1/2 Smith & Wesson, 17.0 grains of #4227 for 960 fps in a 5-1/2 Colt Single Action and 18.5 grains of #4227 for 1,050 fps from a 7-1/2 Colt Single Action. Is there a place to go for load data for 44 Special loads. It ties with two others as my favorite sixgun cartridge. and the special requirements for residents of these states; CA, CT, IL, MA, NJ, and NY. Both bullets were seated out to their second crimp groove for overall lengths of 1.582 and 1.588 inches. The Cast Bullet Association is an organization of shooters who enjoy shooting cast lead bullets in rifles and handguns for competition, hunting, or informal target shooting. Whether a Perfect Packin Pistol 4" S&W-style is fancy or plain it still serves the purpose. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. An oversized bullet will shoot OK, but any undersized in my experience won't. The point being, the overall length of straight-wall, sixgun cartridges is a crucial measurement in relation to pressure and velocities. Its a natural outgrowth of half-jacketed bullets, and unlike traditional jacketed bullets, consists of a full-length copper cup with a lead core. Learn from CBA members that have been casting their entire life. SIG Sauer Announces New P320-XTEN 10mm Pistol, Federal Ammunition History: 14 Things You Didn't Know, Revic Optics BR4 Ballistic Rangefinder: Review, SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, SIG Sauer P322 Rimfire Pistol: First Look, Springfield Armory Hellion 5.56 NATO Bullpup Rifle: Tested, Silencer Central Streamlined Suppressor-Purchasing Process Shakes Up Industry, 5 Best Red-Dot Optics for SIG Sauer P365X & XL Pistols. The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. (I) Giveaway ends March 20, 2022. A database of .44 S&W Special handloads. Keith 429244 and 7.5 Unique. For the mild .44 special loads, I recommend all lead bullets and loads that produce 700-850 FPS speeds. I can't agree more. Either weight can be driven over 1,000 fps and provide about all the power that can be comfortably housed in a medium-weight revolver. When the .44 Mag was introduced in 1955, Hercules 2400 and IMR 4227 soon became the most popular powders for .44 Magnum hand-loads. Accurates powders come in a number of speeds and there are loads from the fast No. Top performing examples include Hodgdon Longshot, Accurate No. For light loads with 250-260 grain bullets, 5.3 grains Vhitavouri 320 or 4.8 grains Tight Group will deliver 700 fps and good accuracy. Regardless of the loads chosen, be certain to use data exactly as listed, as changes in bullet design, bullet seating depth and overall cartridge length, primer, etc., will change the pressures and performance of the load. I like to use Lyman reloading manuals for verified data. Several years ago, a prominent gun magazine asked readers what their favorite powder was for reloading the .44 Special. A Smith & Wesson Model 1950 Target 24-6 (middle) .44 Special with a 6.5-inch barrel was used to develop the accompanying data. A Colt Single Action Army dating back to 1910 measured .431 inch, while a 1963 New Frontier SAA measured .430, a 2014-era New Frontier SAA ran .429 inch, and a 1980 3rd Generation Single Action Army measured .434 inch. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. ( 6) Write a Review Q&A (4) Our Price: $73.99. 44 special 240gr Hornady HP/XTP 2400 Starting 8.9gr for 600fps Max. Ammunition Reloading. I loaded some for a friend's 6" S&W 624. I replicate that load with a Lyman 246 grain round nose or a Magma 240 grain round nose and 5.0 grains of Bullseye in my Ruger Bisley Flat Top. 5 and No. Your email address will not be published. Post WWII revolvers are stronger. Do not leave Tightgroup in your powder measure, even overnight. What is most interesting is that sometimes velocities were faster than those from an original Model 1950 Target with the same barrel length, but other loads recorded lower speeds. Cowboy Action has recently given the .44 Special a shot in the arm, and the lighter cast bullets further broaden the Special's appeal. Smokeless-powder ammunition soon appeared, and velocities were eventually standardized at 755 fps with the same bullet. Joseph VonBenedikt is with Joel Hodgdon to talk about the improved accuracy and long-range potential of the already reliable Core-Lokt ammo line. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Buy 50 rounds of Herters 44 Mag 240 grain SP brass cased ammo: GunBroker is the largest seller of Pistol Ammunition Ammunition All: 973242959 . I DO always double check the charged cases before the projectile goes on, but I stick with bulkier powders as a "belt and suspenders" measure. The .44 Special is an ideal cartridge for cast-bullet loads, with literally dozens and dozens of designs and weights readily available. Cast bullets work well in the .44 Special, including the original Lyman/Keith No. of black powder . The CBA is a international organization of shooters who enjoy casting and shooting lead alloy bullets for competition, hunting, experimenting, and casual shooting. 12-07-2019, 10:15 AM #7 Larry Gibson Is there a preferred source of data? I am using it to knock down steel targets from 20 to 50 yards. It consists of 5.4 grains of Bullseye with any brand standard primer. Contest void where prohibited by law. Looking at the accompanying data table, it is obvious I made the choice to use the .44 Special at lower velocities and work toward loads with jacketed and lead bullets that would be fun to shoot. 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? I do use it from time to time, however its more than I want for an everyday workin load at 1,200 fps with a 260-gr. SWC+GC, 265 gr. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. I use that load extensively. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. HP, .44 with 225 gr. Before there were scopes or red dots there were iron sights. Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented demand on the shooting supply industry. Other popular revolvers in Category 3 include the Ruger New Model Blackhawk, USFA SAA-pattern guns manufactured after 2001 and Freedom Arms Model 97. However, it is a +P 44 Special load at 20,000 psi. It was obstreperous enough in my 5-shot Taurus M431, which is a heavier piece than the CAs. Keith bullets from H&G, Lyman, NEI and RCBS loaded in .44 Special brass. Not even in a .44 Magnum pistol. When considering an all-purpose .44 Special powder, Ken Waters, in Pet Loads noted, Im pretty sure my choices would be Unique and Blue Dot.. #375. 6.8 Western Ammo Options: The Load of Long Yardage, .458 Winchester Magnum History: The Complete Story. Thanks and enjoy your stay. Skeltons favorite handload consisted of the 250-grain Keith bullet pushed around 950 fps (4-inch barrel) using 7.5 grains of Unique powder. Berry's Preferred Plated 44cal 240 Grain Flat Point Reloading Pistol Bullets quantity. HS-6 and Blue Dot are excellent choices for such applications. For lead bullets near 900 FPS, I recommend a GC (Gas Check), the little copper bottom on the lead bullet as below (5th item from left). If the pressures are too low or powder energy is insufficient, bullets will stick in the bore, so do not reduce suggested starting powder charges. I still favor genuine Keith designs for general use, as they are accurate, perform well on game, are easy to cast, and without a gas check, they are especially economical. What kind of gun? Using wheel weight alloy, they weigh approximately 255260 grains. Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot. Number of Views: 5745, Published on 10-20-2014 09:21 PM Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. If Im looking for a little more velocity, I go with the Lyman/Thompson #429215GC that lubed, sized and gas checked weighs around 220 grains. JSP, (WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, FP=Flat Point, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), SP=Soft Point, (JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet), (Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start. Unique is about the best all around powder, but if you want a slower burning powder, I suggest 2400. What bullet weights? In 1932 when Hercules 2400 powder first appeared, Keith loaded 18.5 grains in balloon-head cases to reach 1,200 fps. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Alliant - Power Pistol: 250 gr. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Left to right:- 250 gr. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Specials case was lengthened to accommodate the use of emerging smokeless propellants. My favorite load with this bullet is 7.5 grains of TiteGroup for a modest velocity of 745 fps, light recoil and one-hole groups. .44 Special (Hodgdon Data) reloading data with 130 loads. (II) Limit one entry per household. This also helps powder to ignite properly and usually results in lower extreme velocity spreads and improved accuracy. The .44 Special is a joy to handload, but there are some important points to be aware of that will help handloaders assemble top-notch ammunition tailored specifically to their guns. He is a published fiction and non-fiction writer, earned his pilots license in 1965, and is the original founder of Reload Ammo in 1996. You can follow the Elmer Keith trail up to 1200 fps with 250 grain bullets, but the pressure is 22,000 - 25,000psi and bullet diameter, seating depth and alloyare critical. Garmin Tactix 7 Pro Ballistic Solar-Powered GPS Smartwatch: First Look, Non-Lethal Personal & Home Defense with Byrna, Range Tested: EAA Girsan Pistols & Shotguns, New for 2023: Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR), New for 2023: All-American RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol, New for 2023: FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor, New Big Bore Pistols for 2023: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical, New for 2023: FN SCAR 15P Rifle Caliber Pistol, First Look: Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum Revolver With 10.5-Inch Barrel, New-for-2023 Taurus Judge Executive Grade 410/.45 Colt Revolver, Smith & Wesson Equalizer and the Brand New M&P 5.7 Pistol. Early ammunition contained 26 grains of black powder that pushed the 246-grain, lead roundnose bullet 780 fps. JSP * 5.0 gr. With 6.0 grains of Unique and a 51/2 sixgun the result is a very pleasant shooting, and accurate, load of 825 fps. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. JFP, 240 gr. does not engender a reputation as a "hot" cartridge. Wolfe Publishing Company | 2180 Gulfstream Suite A | Prescott, AZ 86301. 30 days easy returns; 100% money back guarantee. Our Price: With member reviews, stories, and creativity! Our mission is to help you improve your skills, save money, and achieve greater accuracy with your reloads. . The Special's case was lengthened to accommodate the use of emerging smokeless propellants. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. The traditional .44-caliber bullet weight is 240 grains, and here we have several proven performers. Theyre certainly capable of doing everything we expect the sixgun to do. Give a Gift Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. jacketed bullets from Hornady, Sierra, or Speer with any of my first mentioned standard load powders result in slightly slower velocities than cast bullets, giving right around 900 fps from a 51/2 barrel. An occasional trip through the case trimmer will result in more uniform crimps - a big part of consistent ballistics - and better accuracy. Filled with .44 Magnum cartridges, it is ready for target practice or hunting. (I) Giveaway ends July 31, 2023. Manufacturer #: HT-430240EK. Using bullets from Hornady HP-XTP , Hornady FP-Cowboy, Hornady HP-XTP, Hornady SWC-HP or SWC, Hornady HP-XTP or CL-SIL. 308 (June/July 2017). Since many shooters shoot Specials in their .44 Mags for practice and plinking, I also chronographed some representative Special loads in a six-inch M29-3. But don't be misled. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. When. There are many bullet designs bearing the name Keith, but a semi-wadcutter design does not make it a Keith bullet. Besides, a carry revolver can always be charged with four .44 Specials and a pair of .44 Magnums. Forum; Reloading Tutorials; About; Login.44 S&W Special. I used to load down the .44 mag cases to .44 special velocities. Gun Loads Forum - .44 Special Home Reloading Pistols .44 Special If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. Learn how your comment data is processed. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM DIY 2022, P.O. Even with 1907/1908-era smokeless powders such as Hercules Unique, velocity could have easily been bumped up to 900 to 950 fps while staying within todays pressure guidelines of 15,500 psi. It is a faithful rendition of the original and should quicken the pulse of .44 Special fans everywhere. My experience shooting those behemoths suggests they exceed my limit. Post WWII revolvers are stronger. The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and my old Lyman #45 Reloading Guide differ on a starting load for the bullet i'm using (Lyman 429244 - 245gr gascheck). cast SWC; Hornady 200-gr. Most casting companies use hard alloy, it casts better and ships better. In all likelihood, it would be where I finished as well. Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. have introduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act (H.R. Number of Views: 5757, Published on 10-20-2014 09:20 PM The loads I have tried today are all 240 gr's, and OAL set to 1.45" Unique 6.5 gr = 640fps 7.0 gr = 749 fps 800X 7.0 gr = 650 fps Bullseye 5.5 gr = 720 fps AA#2 6.0 gr = 708 fps For those that load for the 44 special, max 15500 loads what are some of your pet loads you like? Speer offers the perfect .44 Special jacketed bullet. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. If economics are important, a one-pound can of Unique (7,000 grains) will fetch you 1,000 loads using a 7.0-grain powder charge. Available in different sizes and red dot ready, it'll fit your needs, whatever they are. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM May/June 2023, P.O. * Target shooters flocked to the .44 Special. There are plenty of bullet weights and styles available for reloading the .44 Special: (from left) 180-gr. For those who dont cast, check out the Oregon Trail Laser Cast 240-gr. There is no published data for +P in 45 Schofield caliber, and there won't be much in 44 Special, and the data that is, won't go to 25,000psi which is where the pressure ceiling is in the medium framed Rugers. XTP; Nosler 240-gr. These three lead bullets make the .44 Magnum a versatile cartridge (left to righ): The 200-grain wadcutter is inexpensive and great to shoot at targets. Bullet sizes vary from .429 for jacketed to .432 for some lead in diameter. ", "Truth is treason in the empire of lies" Ron Paul, Colt's Manufacturing Company Armorer Instructor. 1.450 in. Also, as previously indicated, the chamber throats measure a comparatively snug .429 inch. http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gtypeid=1 They don't show any data for the 240gr using 2400 but do with the 250gr. Magtech Cowboy Action Ammunition 44 Special 240 Grain Lead Flat Nose Box of 50. The Hodgdon site on-line has loading data for ~15,500 PSI loads. Look for your answers in our Forum and in our bi-monthly publication the Fouling Shot. 4.3 Grains of Trailboss. Buy 44 Caliber Bullets .429 Diameter 240 Grain Hunting & Self Defense 50 Count: GunBroker is the largest seller of Other Reloading Supplies Reloading Supplies Ammunition Reloading All: 981766936 . Before the readership has a collective coronary, let me quickly point out that the .44 Special can live happily ever after on a steady diet of ammo loaded with quality cast bullets. Standard pressure loads are suitable for all guns and are within SAAMI specifications of 15,500 psi. They are accurate in Smith & Wesson and other guns with a .430-inch groove diameter. For those seeking rapid expansion, the Rim Rock 240-grain HP-SWC with a gas check (cast with a BHN of 11 to 12) will expand at around 950 fps, a velocity that can be surpassed with select standard pressure data. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead.

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